Famine Way Commemorative Walk to arrive at Royal Canal Harbour next Wednesday
The National Famine Way Commemorative Walk will take place over six days from Monday May 20 to Saturday May 25, beginning with a dramatic re-enactment of the events that prompted the foundation of the walk.
This year’s walk celebrates the Global Irish Famine Way, which was launched last week and is an initiative developed to extend the National Famine Way to Canada and worldwide to raise awareness of the historical significance of the Great Irish Famine and the diaspora abroad.
It is a collaboration between the Embassies of Ireland and Ottawa and the National Famine Museum in Strokestown, with academic experts, local community groups and heritage agencies including Parks Canada.
Westmeath County Council is supporting the initiative, along with six other local authorities (Longford, Roscommon, Meath, Kildare, Fingal, Dublin City) on the National Famine Way route.
The Irish Ambassador to Canada, Eamonn McKee, will lead this year’s walk and the group will be joined by schools, traditional musicians, entertainment and costumed enthusiasts. Walkers and walking groups are invited to join in for the full six days (165km) or any part of the walk.
The National Famine Way Commemorative Walk 2024 is due to arrive at Mullingar Royal Canal Harbour on Wednesday May 22 at 5pm.
The walkers will then set off again from Piper’s Boreen on Thursday May 23 at 9.30am, and locals are invited to join the group or extend a farewell as the walk continues towards Dublin.
The National Famine Way™ is a 165km way marked walking and cycling trail commemorating a heartbreaking walk of forced emigration in 1847 at the height of the Irish famine.
It begins at the memorial glass wall at The National Famine Museum at Strokestown Park in Roscommon and continues through six counties, along the historic Royal Canal, to EPIC, The Irish Emigration Museum in the Dublin Docklands.
The route is poignantly marked by more than 30 pairs of bronze children’s shoes and the route and associated stories can be followed through a free app.
Walkers can also purchase an official passport to get stamped along the route.
RTÉ report
Last week’s RTÉ news report on the Global Irish Famine Way launch
READ ALSO
National Famine Commemoration to take place in Edgeworthstown